The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-17
BUSY EXPLAINING HIS PLAN
Citizens Eyince a Lively Interest in
Maj. Doxey's Gas-Supplying Scheme.
Contracts on the First Day of His Open
ing an 0ffice-0bjection to the Plan.


gas Company proves successful not it is
creating talk The people of the city want gas
and ready to give support to any plan for
getting the fuel that is at all feasible The
Office of the Anderson company, at No IL, North
Meridian street, had great many visitors yes
terday, and during the greater part of the day
three persons kept busy explaining the
plan upon which Major Doxey proposes to sup
ply the city Major Doxey said last night that
the first days business had been very satisfac-
tory to him. Between seventy-fye and one
hundred contracts were entered into during the
day. I'VE could have closed 200 contracts" he
said last night, IF the people who came had
known what they wanted. Not more than one
in ten knew the size of his store or furnace. and.
of course, before contract could be closed they
had to go home and measure their heating appa-
ratus. They all promised to be back to-day. and
we expect to have to put on another clerk in
the morning in order to accommodate the peo-
pie. Quite a number of manufacturers were
among the callers, but the majority were desir-
Gus of contracting for the heating of private
residences. Among the first contractors were
Il. G. Atkins d Co., saw manufacturers, who
will take perpetual paid-up certificate for their
extensive manufactory, provided the scheme is
a success"
While the schedule of prices is almost entirely
the same that in the gas ordinance, Major
Doxey claims that in some instances the rates
are lower According to his scale of prices. the
heating of the average-sized cook stove will
cost $12 per annum, or $50 for perpetual fuel.
The largest-siZed stove is S75 on the perpetual
plan, and the smallest $50 For gasoline stoves
he proposes to furnish perpetual gas for $50.
AS to residences and Offices, the cost for perpet-
uai gas for base burner which has q fire pot
eighteen inches in diameter $685. for the smallest
sized burner tbs price is 500 o. and for the
largest So. For upright of the average
size the perpetual cost is $780, and for the largest
size $50. Crates and open-front heating stoves
cost $50 for the perpetual fuel The cost of
heating furnaces perpetually varies from 800
for the smallest size fre-pot to $21o for the
largest. which is forty Height inches over in
diameter. The companys average price for
heating ordinary sized stores $780, For store
rooms, large halls, and hotels the price varies
according to the size of the rooms or buildings.
How many contracts do you desire to secure
before you will begin to pipe to the cltyl" was
then asked Major Doxey.
I'VE wouldn't feel like going to work until
one-fourth of the fuel consumers of
the city have contracted With u.s.
said he. with that many contractors We would
feel assured that our plan would be a success.
We feel certain that we will be able to secure
the requisite number of contracts in a short
time. At the rate they in to-day,
ought to have them in ten days or Two weeks.
would like to impress upon the people the neces-
sity of coming forward at once if they want gas
brought TO the city this fall The season is al
ready far advanced, and there is time to be
lost if get the fuel here before winter. We
are ready to DO our part, and CEN assure the peo-
pie that we will get the gas here by Dec. l
if they will only come forward and contract for
it,"
Speaking of another phase of the subject
Major Doxey said that if the people of Indian
apos got gas it would have to come from the
the gas region, and he did not think there
gas in lasting quantities nearer Indianapolis
than Noblesville or Anderson. Il look upon
sinking wells nearer the city as simply throwing
any number of wells, but it would take q hun
dred such wells have been found to supply the
city. / have observed that old companies
like the Standard Oil never waste their money
in sinking wells outside the gas territory"
DO You have any fears of not having enough
to supply the city In case your scheme should
prove successful" was asked.
THAT question is not worrying us PARTICLE"
said hs. The only thing that we are concerned
about is getting the people to take the fuel. If
enough contracts made I shall probably buy
some of the Noblevlle wells from the Standard
Oil Company. l have information that they will
likely sell now could have purchased gas
from them some time ago but did not know then
that would need it. Besides our gas at Ander-
son, our company has territory composing
eight thousand acres in the heart of the gas
region in which to sink wells"
The novel method of the new company meets
with some opposition on the streets. but Major
Doxey seems to have trouble in explaining
away all the objections raised. One objection ia
that the company does not become liable in any
event for damage to persons or property, result
ing from the use of gas. The company claims
that the objection is not Valid as in entering the
field the company binds itself to comply with
the stipulations of the ordinance which proposes
to hold u company responsible for damages re-
sulting from bad service.
The other companies have little to say re-
earding the Doxey scheme, more than that they
are not disturbed, and will in due time show the
people what they can do on a plain business
plan. The Indianapolis company has four new
wells going down, two at Greenfield and two at
Noblesville, and promises to be heard from in a
few days. The president of the company said
"Our energies have not been di-
verified; our gas is not for sale, and propose
to bring it to Indianapolis ourselves soon as
practicable"